DESPITE what the experts think, Fox claims it’s not upset over the prospect of a small-ball Fall Classic between the Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Logic dictates that the network was rooting for a Boston-LA World Series next week – with the chance for Dodgers manager Joe Torre to avenge himself on both the Yankees and the Red Sox in a single series.

“You will always find matchups that on paper are going to look more attractive,” says Fox Sports President, Ed Goren. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that in the long run you’re better off.

“We’re going to play the hand we’re given,” he says.

The Phils won their best-of-seven league championship series 4-1. The Rays lead their series, 3-1.

The World Series is different than other televised sports, Goren claims, because the ratings depend more on the length of the series and the closeness of the games than geographical match-ups.

The 1997 Series between Cleveland and the Florida Marlins had low expectations but ultimately delivered huge audiences, he points out.

One way or the other, it will have no effect on how much money Fox makes on the Series, since ads are sold way in advance, he adds.